For the first two quarters of 2011/12 (Aug 2011 to the end of January 2012) in total 256,500 apprentices started, a 20 per cent increase on the same period last year.

Comparing these provisional figures with the final figures for the same six month period in 2010/11, 16-18 year-old starts have increased one per cent, 19-24 year-old starts have increased 13 per cent and 25+ starts have increased 48 per cent to just over 100,000.

The continued growth of adult apprenticeships this year follows significant increases last year, as in 2010/11 there were 182,100 apprenticeship starts for those aged 25 and over, a rise of 270 per cent compared to 2009/10.

Gordon Marsden, shadow minister for FE contacted FE Week following the release of the figures.

He said: “The latest apprenticeships figures indicate the government is still failing make any real progress in increasing 16-18 apprenticeships and limited progress in the key 19-24 age range.

“The majority of this increase is fuelled by the continued growth in 25+ apprenticeships – most of which would have been previously been categorised as train to gain – and even these will be at risk when the government introduces its controversial FE loans proposals for apprenticeships at Level 3 and above.”